Internal-combustion engine.



W. WILLS. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2l. 1914.

Patented May 11, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

`w. WILLs. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. APPLlCATlON FILED MA Y2I, 1914.

1,138,824. I Patented May 11,1915. l 1 n l V ZSHEETS-SHEET 2- UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIcE.

WILLIAM wILLs, 0E CANTON, oHIo, As'sIGNon or ONE-THIRD To HOMER E. BLACK AND ONE-THIRD T0 WILLIAM L. ROHRER,

BOTH- OF CANTON, OHIO, AND ONE- EIGH'IH. TO WM. A. MARSHALL, 0F AUSTIN, NEVADA? INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE. t

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM WILLs, a citizen of the United States, formerly a resident of Luning, Nevada, now residing at and also portable engines such as are used in automobiles, motor boats and the like, and relates more especially to any type of internal combustion engines in which the heavier or non-volatile liquid hydrocarbons are used as fuel. Although the types of engines to .which this invention relates are more especially adapted to and designed for the use of the low grade li uid hydrocarbons as fuel, other hydrocar ons of higher tests of efliciency may be utilized if desirable.

My invention further relates to internal combustion engines of this type in which the cylinders of the. engines are provided with cooling ljackets adapted to contain hydrocarbon oils for the purpose of cooling the cylinders. Y

This invention relates still further to the internal combustion engines of the' class referredto in which a cooling jacket located around the cylinder of the engine is adaptedl tc contain hydrocarbon liquid for 'the purpose of cooling the cylinder, the heat gen- `rated within the explosion chamber causing the hydrocarbon liquid to vaporize, said hydrocarbon vapor being mixed with air supplied to the cooling jacket to form with the hydrocarbon vapor an explosive mixture u hich is admitted to the cylinder at the proper times and ignited.

Oneof the objects of my invention is to providean internal combustion engine in which a relatively heavy or non-volatile hydrocarbon oil may be used for fuel, this oil being heated from the cylinder of the engine, air being passed through said oil for the purpose of carbureting the air, the ex'- plosive mixture thus formed being then drawnl into the cylinder where it is properly compressed and ignited.

A further object is to provide an internal combustion en 'ne of the class referred to in which the 'quid hydrocarbon which is Specification or Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 19.15.

Application filed May 21, 1914. Serial No. 839,939.

used for fuel is also passed around the cylinder of the engine for the purpose of cooling the cylinder.

lA still further object is to provide means whereby the amount of explosive mixture fed to the cylinder maybe varied in accord# ance with-the speed at whichit is desired to operate the engine.

A still further object is to provide means for heating the hydrocarbon'foil to produce thev initial charge or charges of explosive mixture, said heating means being disconnected .after the radiation from the combustion chamber of the cylinder has sup-v plied sufficient heat to the liquid hydrocarbon contained in the cooling jacket to vaporize the same. v e v These objects, together with other objects I attain by the construction lillustrated in theaccompanying drawings, although my invention may be embodied in a variety of other mechanical forms, `the construction illustrated being chosen by way of example.

In the drawings: Figure l is a longitudinal section through a stationary internal combustion engine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, partsbeing shown in section. Fig. 3 is a detached perspective `view upon an enlarged scale o f the cap used upon the fuel containing, cooling, jacket showing the air intake pipe and outlet pipe for the explosive mixture. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of an automobile provided with an internal combustion engine constructed .in accordance with'my invention. Fig. 5 is a side elevation upon a larger scale of .an engine such as shown in Fig.`4, parts b eing shown in section for the purpose of illustration.

' Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the reverse side of the engine. Fig. 7 is a topplan view of the radiator used in thel up'on which the main frame 2 is mounted.

Preferablyormed integral with the main vreadily apparent to those skilled in the art,

l frame is the cylinder 3 around which is formed a cooling jacket 4, of the type known as an open jacket, so constructed that liquid contained in the ho per 5 will be allowed to enter the cooling ]acket and circulate entirel around the circumference of the exploslon chamber 6 of the cylinder. A piston 7 of the usual construction is connected to the crank shaft 8 by means of a connecting rod' 9, said crank shaft carrying the usual driving pulley 10. The spark plug 11 is shown entering the explosion chamber 6, said explosion chamber being rovided with the usual intake valve 12 an outlet valve 13, the outlet valve, being operated by the usual mechanism shown at 14, which is common in all engines of this type, and controlling the exhaust port 15 to which is connected an exhaust-pipe 16. An opening is provided at 17 for the purpose of lubricating the cylinder. So much of the construction is common in all internal combustion engines of the type referred to and no further description of this construction is thought to be necessary as the .specic form and detail construction of the several parts going to make up the mechanism hereinbefore described has no further bearing upon the present invention, other than that these parts or their equivalents are necessary in order to form a part of the mechanism to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In engines of this type provided with an open hopper, a collar 18 is usually provided in the upper portion of the hopper. I pro- -vide a cap 19 to be clamped down upon this collar by means of a plurality of hooks 20, a gasket 21 bein preferably located between the edge o the collar and the cap.

`Carried by the cap 19 and extending down to a point near the cylinder 3 is an air intake pipe 22 provided near its upper extremity with a valve 23 by which the volume of air passing through said pipe may be. increased or diminished as the occasion necessitates. If desired a lling aperture 19a may be provided in the cap 19, although under. ordinary conditions this aperture would, not be used. The outlet pipe 24 is also located through the cap 19 andis shown provided with an elbow 25 to which is connected a pipe 26 the opposite end of said pipe being provided with the T 27. A pet cock 28 is located in the T 27 for the purpose of admitting a further supply of air when the mixture becomes too rich. Downwardly extending from the T is a pipe line 29 in which is located a valve 30 through which the quantity of gas delivered to the engine may be throttled, a hand .lever 31 being provided for operating the valve. Any suitable form of check valve 32 may also be connected tothe pipe line 29 it desired, and a suitable back ring screen i incassa 33 of any common or well known type is preferablyv located in said pipe line as close as ossible to the engine.

he liquid hydrocarbon to be used as fuel is supplied to the hopper 5 through a pipe 34, which pipe is connected to a small tank 35 rovided with suitable means for control ing the supply of oil. The ipe 36 leads from the main source of supp y of oil (not shown), and enters the tank 35 preferably through the bottom wall as shown and is provided within the tank with a valve seat 37 adapted to accommodate the oat valve 38 which controls the supply of oil admitted to the tank 35 and maintains the oil in said tank and in the hopper 5 at the proper level.

A small container 39 is connected to the hopper 5 by means of a liquid intake pipe 40 and a gas outlet pipe 41. As shown, the liquid intake pipe enters the hopper at a point below the level of the liquid fuel contained in the hopper, thereby insuring a small quantity'of liquid within the container 39 at all times. A heater of an common and well known type is located beneath the container 39, preferably an electric heater such as is indicated at 42. Suitable connections are made to a battery 43 or other source of electrical current, and a switch is provided at 44 by which means the heater may be disconnected.

Where heavy oils are used for fuel there will be a sediment left in the bottom of the cooling jacket 4 which must necessarily be ferquently removed in order to allow the oil to circulate around the cylinder within said jacket. For this purpose a drain pipe 45 is provided in the cooling jacket at its lowest point, said drain pipe being provided with a valve 46 of any desirable and suitable construction, through which the sediment left within the cooling jacket may the pipe 22 to the bottom of the hopper 5 and is carbureted as it passes up through the liquid hydrocarbon contained in the hopper. This carbureted air is mixed with the hydrocarbon vapor which passes into the hopper from the container 39 and the explosive mixture thus formed is drawn ofi' through the outlet pipe 25 and through the pipe 26 and pipe line 29 into the explosion chamber 6 of the cylinder where it is ig# nited at the proper time by the spark plug 11. The exploded charge` is carried from the explosion chamber through the exhaust port 15 and pipe 16 in the usual manner.

As the cylinder 3 becomes suiiciently heated from the explosions taking place therein,

heat will be radiated from said cylinder through the liquid hydrocarbon contained within the jacket 4 and hopper 5, causing a portion of thislliquid hydrocarbon to be vaporized. The heater 42 may then be dispensed with' as the carbureted air which passes upward through the oil within the hopper 5'will be mixed with the hydrocarbon vapor formed within the hopper the mixture thus produced being drawn of in the usual manner through the outlet pipe 24 and into the explosion chamber 6 where it is exploded, and the operation 'of the engine gone on with in the usual manner. As the oil within the hopper 5 is constantly being vaporize'd, a new supply of oil is being continually admitted to the hopper through the pipe 34 as hereinafter described, the oil circulating around the jacket 4 and keeping the cylinder properly cooled. The cold air drawn in from the outside through the pipe 22 is discharged against the outer face of the cylinder tending to further cool the cylinder.

Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive of the drawings illustrate a slight modification of my invention showing the changes necessary to be made on applying my invention to al portable engine. 'In this type as well as 1n the stationary engine a liquid hydrocarbon is utilized both as a cooling agent Jfor the cylinder and as fuel for the engine, the radiation from the cylinder causing the oil to vaporize as in the former case. A supply of oil is carried in a suitable tank such as indicated at 47 from which a supply pipe 48 leads to the cooling jacket 49 of the engine. In cases where the supply tank is placed below the level of the cooling jacket of the engine as is shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings some means is necessary to force the oil from the tank into the cooling jacket and I prefer to use a pump 50, which connectsto the tank by meansfof a tube 51, it being necessary at intervals to pump air into the upper portion of the tank forcing the liquid from the tank through the pipe 48 and into the cooling jacket. Pumps of this character are in general use at present upon automobiles so that it is not thought necessary to further illustrate the construction and operation of the pump shown, as it has no connection with the present invention and is only necessary to maintain the oil in the cooling jacket at the proper level. A shutoif 48a is provided in the pipe 48 at a point nea-r the engine. The radiator is made in the form of a tank 52 connected to the cooling jacket 49 by means of a. pipe 53 which enters the radiator near its base and a second pipe 54 which is connected near the upper portion of the radiator. By this construction the liquid hydrocarbon is allowed to ders.

circulate around the cylinder and through the radiator. An air intake pipe 55 is located in the radiator extending nearly to the bottom thereof and a gas outlet pipe 56 is connected at the upper portion of the radiator, and provided with a valve 57 for adjusting the maximum intake of gas to the cylinders. A T 58 connects the pipe 56 with a downwardly extending pipe 59 and is provided with a pet cock 60, the stem 61 of which is elongated and extended through the instrument board 62 andV provided upon its extremity with a knob 63. The lower extremity of the pipe 59 is connected to the intake pipe 64.l of the carbureter which is of the usual construction and is connected to a carbureter 65 of any desired and well known type. The usual manifold 66 connects the carbureter and explosion chambers of the several cylinders of the engine. A gage 67 is located upon the inner side of the instrument board and is connected near its lower extremity by means of a tube 68 to the cooling jacket 49,` and is adapted to show the level of the oil in the radiator tank. The remaining parts of the engine are constructed and operated in the usual, manner and no further reference to these parts is considerednecessary.

In starting the portable engine just described gasolene is admitted to the carbureter 65 through the supply pipe 69 and air is admitted to the carbureter in the usual manner, mixing with the gasolene vapor and forming an explosive mixture which is carried through the manifold 66 and into-the cylinders where it is exploded. As the cylinders become heated the oil circulating through the cooling jacket and radiatorI tank Will be vaporized and will mix with the air drawn in through the pipe 55 and up through the supply of oil in the radiator tank 52, the mixture of gas and air while thus formed being carried through the pipes 56, 59 and 64 and through the carbureter into the manifold from whence it is discharged into the cylinders and exploded. The gasolene supply may then be cut-off by means of the cut-off valve 70 located in the pipe 69 and the engine run upon the heavy oil entirely, said oil'circulating through the pipes 53 and 54 and around the cooling jacket for the purpose of cooling the cylin- A drain pipe 71 is provided in the base of the radiator tank and is provided with a drainvalve.

As Will be seen from the above description and attached drawings the engines both of the stationary and portable type are constructed'very similar-to the usual types of such engines and any of the usual types of internal combustion engines may with slight alterations be made to conform with the principles of my invention. ln each of the instances illustrated in the drawings it will the cylinder,

be observed that the usual water jacket around the cylinder is utilized as a Vaporizing chamber for the motive iuid used as fuel for the engine, said motive fluid be also used as a cooling agent to prevent the cylinder from becoming overheated.

In the event that the oil tank, shown at 47 in Fig. 4 of the drawings, is placed above the level of the engine there will be no necessity of` providing a pump to raise the level of oil` in the cooling jacketsv and radiator tank, as the oil would naturally seek its own level in the above mentioned jackets and radiator tank. It would be necessary however to provide means for maintaining the oil at a uniform level, in the radiator tank and jacket, similar to the means shown and described upon the stationary engine. It

will, of course, be understood that after the gasolene supply has been shut off from the carbureter shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings that although mixture of heavy oil vapor and air is still carried through the carbureter that this is merely done for convenience and that the carbureter serves no other function than to act as a passageway through which the already carbureted mixture is conducted and if desirable a pipe could be provided connecting the manifold directly with the pipe 59 and the result would be precisely the same.

Although the drawings and above specification disclose the best mode in which I have contemplated embodying my invention, I desire to be not limited to the details of such disclosure, for, in the further practical application of my invention, many changes in form and construction may be made, as. circumstances vrequire or experience suggests, without departing from the spirit of the invention, within the scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an internal combustion engine, an oil containing cooling jacket surrounding an oil containing reservoir located upon said cooling jacket and communica-ting therewith, means for maintaining a uniform level. of oil in the reservoir, means for vaporizing a suficientquantity of oil to start the engine, an air intake pipe eX- tending downward through the top of said reservoir and through the oil contained therein, the lower extremity of said pipe terminating at a point adjacent the explosive chamber and a gas outlet pipe connecting the reservoir and the cylinder.

2. In an internal combustion engine, an oil containing cooling jacket surrounding the cylinder, an oil containing reservoir loizing a suilicient quantity cated upon said cooling jacket and communicating therewith, means for vaporizing asuiicient quantity of oil to start the engine, an air intake pipe extending downward through the top of said reservoir and and the cylinder.

3. In a hydrocarbon motor, an oil containing cooling jacket surrounding the eX- plosion chamber, a vaporizing chamber communicating with the cooling jacket, means for `maintaining the oil within the Vaporizing chamber at a given level, means for forcing air through the oil contained in the vaporizing chamber and means for feeding the same into the explosion chamber.

4. In a hydrocarbon motor, an oil containing cooling jacket surrounding the eX- plosion chamber, the heat radiated from the explosion chamber being adapted to vaporize the oil contained in the cooling jacket, means for forcing air through the oil contained in the cooling jacket, means for feeding the same into the explosion chamber, and means for operating the engine until# the explosion chamber has become sufficiently heated to vaporize the oil contained in the cooling jacket.

5. An internal combustion engine, comprising a jacketed cylinder provided with a hopper, and adapted to contain oil as a cooling agent, an air intake pipe extending into said hopper and discharging against the cylinder, means for maintaining a uniform level of oil in the hopper, means for vaporizing a suiiicient quantity of oil to start the engine and a gas feed pipe connecting said hopper to the explosion chamber.

6. In an internal combustion engine, comprising a jacketed cylinder provided with a hopper and adapted to contain oi'l as a cooling agent, means for maintaining a uniform level of oil in the hopper, means for vaporof oil to start the engine and a cap detachably secured upon the hopper, said cap vprovided with an air intake pipe adapted to eXtendinto the hopper and a gas outlet pipe connecting the hopper and the cylinder.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM WILLS, Witnesses I JOI-IN H. BISHOP, v SYLvIA BORON, 

